The Bureaucracy
1) Read the following facts about Impeachment
The 'founders' were well aware of the possibility of wrongdoing and placed within the Constitution a series of provisions concerning impeachment. Indeed, the whole process is yet another example of the checks and balances embedded into our government structure.
The Bureaucracy
2) Use the following Information to fill out notes
Intro to Bureaucracy
As an introduction to the bureaucracy, there is a lot to cover in this lesson. The material will be driven by the three learning modules below, covering many facets and issues concerning this topic. In class we will go through each module together, viewing the video portions as a class and then moving into work in pairs on each of the 'Explore' sections. Notes should be taken as we go, with particular attention focusing on issues within and about the bureaucracy.
The Federal Bureaucracy Is
4 million employees; 2.8 million are civilians or “civil servants”
President only appoints 3% (patronage or political appointments)
15 cabinet level departments
200+ independent agencies with 2,000+ bureaus, divisions, branches, etc.
Biggest - Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Veterans Administration
Functions of the Federal Bureaucracy
Implementation - carry out laws of Congress, executive orders of the President
Administration - routine administrative work; provide services (ex: SSA sends social security checks to beneficiaries)
Regulation - issue rules and regulations that impact the public (ex: EPA sets clean air standards)
Source: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/am_gov/chap6/a0606401.asp
Organization
The federal bureaucracy is generally divided into four basic types:
- cabinet departments—15 executive departments created to advise the president and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity (Department of State, Department of Labor, Department of the Interior); each department is headed by a secretary, except the Department of Justice, which is headed by the attorney general
- independent executive agencies—similar to departments but without cabinet status (NASA, Small Business Administration)
- independent regulatory agencies—independent from the executive; created to regulate or police (Securities and Exchange Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Federal Reserve Board)
- government corporations—created by Congress to carry out business-like activities; generally charge for services (Tennessee Valley Authority, National Railroad Passenger Corporation [AMTRAK], United States Postal Service)
Who are the “Bureaucrats?”
· 97% are career government employees or civil servants
· Only 10% live in the D.C. area
· 30% work for the Department of Defense
· Less than 15% work for social welfare agencies
· Most are white collar workers: secretaries, clerks, lawyers, inspectors & engineers
· Civil employees more diverse demographically than Congress
3) Use you Resource Page to complete the Cabinet Department organizer
4) Use the Federal Agency Scavenger Hunt Document in the Shared Drive to research the Agencies
Oversight of the Agencies
The President can:
- appoint & remove agency heads
- reorganize the bureaucracy
- issue executive orders
- reduce an agency's budget
Congress can:
- create or abolish agencies & departments
- cut or reduce funding
- investigate agency activities
- hold committee hearings
- pass legislation that alters an agency's functions
- influence or even fail to confirm presidential appointments
The Federal Courts can:
- through judicial review rule on whether the bureaucracy has acted within the law and the U.S. Constitution
- provide due process for individuals affected by a bureaucratic action